Integrating Spectral and Reflectance Transformation Imaging for the Digitization of Manuscripts & Other Cultural Artifacts

FAIN: HD-51709-13

Early Manuscripts Electronic Library (Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274-4182)
Todd Russell Hanneken (Project Director: October 2012 to August 2014)
Michael Ben Phelps (Co Project Director: October 2012 to August 2014)

The establishment of best practices for the application of spectral imaging and Reflectance Transformation Imaging technologies to reveal new information about objects of study in the humanities. Activities would include the imaging of three test objects and follow-up quality evaluation undertaken by humanities scholars.

This project will bring together the nation’s leading experts to integrate two proven technologies for imaging cultural artifacts. The first technology is spectral imaging, which excels at collecting detailed color information in order to recover information which is indistinguishable to the naked eye, such as unreadable text on a manuscript or stages of revision in a painting. The second technology is Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), which captures the detailed surface texture of artifacts. RTI images can be viewed interactively and enhanced, allowing scholars and conservators to reconstruct the methods by which an artifact was produced and to analyze its current physical condition. The team will test two experimental integration procedures on three representative test objects. Humanities scholars will be responsible for evaluating the benefits. The work scripts and benefit analysis will be published for use in imaging major artifact collections around the world.

Media Coverage

New Technology Unmasks Ancient Scriptural Manuscripts (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Carmel Tajonera
Publication: Gold and Blue
Date: 7/1/2014
Abstract: What if ancient religious manuscripts once thought to be lost weren’t lost at all? Professor Todd Hanneken, Ph.D., is the first scholar to combine two existing imaging technologies in order to “see” handwritten text that has been indecipherable to the naked eye for hundreds of years.
URL: https://www.stmarytx.edu/spotlight/new-technology-unmasks-ancient-scriptural-manuscripts/

A Pair of Technologies Sheds New Light on Jubilees Palimpsest (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Steve Moyer
Publication: Humanities
Date: 7/1/2015
Abstract: An NEH-funded project using two forms of technology never used together before is beginning to decipher the ghostlike writings of Jubilees by providing spectral imagery of the text.
URL: https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2015/julyaugust/curio/pair-technologies-sheds-new-light-jubilees-palimpsest

Associated Products

Technology casts new light on old manuscripts (Article)
Title: Technology casts new light on old manuscripts
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Abstract: Faith May Be The Oldest Part Of The Human Experience, But Our Understanding Is Always Changing. Technology Helps Us Look Back Into A World Of Ideas From The Beginning Of Christianity That Were Later Dismissed As Heretical And Nearly Lost Forever. In The 20th Century, Discoveries Such As The Dead Sea Scrolls Brought To Light Ideas On Parchment From The Time Of The Beginning Of Rabbinic Judaism And Christianity. In The 21st Century, A New Kind Of Discovery Is Taking Place.
Year: 2015
Primary URL: http://www.expressnews.com/news/religion/article/Technology-casts-new-light-on-old-manuscripts-6188244.php?t=4536a79c71&cmpid=email-premium
Format: Newspaper
Periodical Title: San Antonio Express-News
Publisher: Hearst Communications Inc.

Recent Technological Developments for the Recovery of Text from Unreadable Manuscripts (Conference Paper/Presentation)
Title: Recent Technological Developments for the Recovery of Text from Unreadable Manuscripts
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Abstract: Some of the earliest witnesses of biblical and related literature leave gaps of illegible text. Technological developments published this year demonstrate capabilities to recover text from erased or damaged manuscripts. In particular, it is possible to distinguish contrasts beyond the color range and precision of the human eye, including ultraviolet and infrared. Additionally, the texture of a manuscript can be mapped such that the corrosion of acidic ink on parchment can be read even if the ink is now missing. This presentation demonstrates the enhanced interactive digital copies of manuscripts now possible and raises the question of avenues for application.
Date: 7/28/2014
Conference Name: Catholic Biblical Association

The Integration of Spectral and Reflectance Transformation Imaging Technologies (Conference Paper/Presentation)
Title: The Integration of Spectral and Reflectance Transformation Imaging Technologies
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Abstract: This presentation reports on the phase of the Jubilees Palimpsest Project dedicated to the integration of spectral imaging technology and reflectance transformation imaging technology (RTI). In 2013–2014 the National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Digital Humanities funded a collaboration of scientists and scholars of early Jewish literature to develop a method for integrating two previously successful technologies. The combination is greater than the sum of the sum of the parts because the data is fully registered, meaning each pixel represents the same location on the object across the data set. As the data set grows the possibilities for processing grow exponentially. The two technologies integrated capitalize on two features of erased manuscripts (palimpsests) that offer hope for recovery of textual information. First, the erasure of ink is typically not complete. The difficulty is more often in distinguishing the erased ink from the similar shades of brown surrounding it. Spectral imaging uses nine or more discrete wavelengths of light, both outside and more precisely within the color resolution of the human eye. This significant quantity of data can be processed and mapped to false-colors within the human range of color perception. The second area of hope for recovery of textual information from erased manuscripts results from the effect of acidic ink on the texture of parchment. Even if the ink has been entirely washed away it may be nevertheless be possible to distinguish where ink had been because of the rougher texture. RTI uses light reflected from many angles to identify the orientation of any one pixel, such that the texture of an imaged object can be visualized and enhanced in an interactive viewer. The integration of these technologies means that a scholar can see both the chrominance and texture features of an object at the same time.
Date: 11/23/2014
Conference Name: Society of Biblical Literature

Integrating spectral and reflectance transformation imaging technologies for the digitization of manuscripts and other cultural artifacts archive (Database/Archive/Digital Edition)
Title: Integrating spectral and reflectance transformation imaging technologies for the digitization of manuscripts and other cultural artifacts archive
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Author: Michael Phelps
Author: Bruce Zuckerman
Abstract: The archive provides access to spectral and reflectance transformation images and metadata used in the "Integrating spectral and reflectance transformation imaging technologies for the digitization of manuscripts and other cultural artifacts" project phase of the Jubilees Palimpsest Project.
Year: 2014
Primary URL: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/885200817

Integrating Spectral and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Integrating Spectral and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI)
Writer: Todd R. Hanneken
Producer: Todd R. Hanneken
Abstract: Based on a presentation to the Society of Biblical Literature, 2014.
Year: 2014
Primary URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-1eWueAOzE
Format: Video
Format: Web

Integrating Spectral and Reflectance Transformation Imaging Technologies for the Digitization of Manuscripts and Other Cultural Artifacts (Web Resource)
Title: Integrating Spectral and Reflectance Transformation Imaging Technologies for the Digitization of Manuscripts and Other Cultural Artifacts
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Abstract: A project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities to advance the tools that make visual objects accessible to humanities scholars
Year: 2014
Primary URL: http://palimpsest.stmarytx.edu/integrating/

New Light on Lost Writings of Early Judaism and Christianity (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: New Light on Lost Writings of Early Judaism and Christianity
Abstract: Explore new technology that makes it possible to unearth hidden writings from ancient manuscripts in our libraries. What if we could read the lost writings of ancient Jews and Christians? What could we learn from the revelations and interpretations that were rejected by the Christians under the Roman Empire? In the past, new discoveries of early writings came from digging in caves and graves. This class will demonstrate the images that are allowing scholars and the general public to see beyond the visible. Participants will have opportunities to interact with the stunning digital copies of ancient artifacts that cast new light on lost forms of Judaism and Christianity.
Author: Todd Hanneken
Date: 10/25/2015
Location: Source of Light Center, San Antonio, TX
Primary URL: http://www.upcsa.org/sol-calendar/2015/10/17/new-light-on-lost-writings-of-early-judaism-and-christianity
Primary URL Description: Event advertisement

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